Franciscan Sister Mary Siena (Annella) Wald, 79, died Jan. 7, at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. A private burial was held Jan. 9. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.
Annella was born July 27, 1941, in Napoleon, North Dakota, to Stanley and Helena (Bosch) Wald, the first of five children.
She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls on July 31, 1959, and received the name Sister Mary Siena. She made her first profession of vows Aug. 12, 1961, and final vows Aug. 12, 1964. She was a Franciscan Sister for 61 years.
Sister Siena earned a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation and a certificate in long-term health administration and did further studies toward a master’s in administration. She ministered as a director of recreation, chief executive officer, program director and administrator in Little Falls, Onamia, Pierz and Breckenridge and in Arizona, South Dakota and California.
She received numerous awards for outstanding achievement and innovative programming in the field of therapeutic recreation and coordinated many educational workshops in Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oregon. Sister Siena was active in service clubs and professional organizations and served on the Board of Examiners of California Nursing Home Administrators.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Harvey, Luella Klein, Isadore and Markus. She is survived by sisters-in-law LuElla, Margaret and Becky; brother-in-law Jack Klein; numerous nieces and nephews; special friend Liz Suther and her Franciscan Community.
Donations preferred to Franciscan Sisters ministries.